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You sounded the “wake up” callfor our people. Mass demonstrationsremoved generations of layereddiscrimination and segregation.Treasures of your wisdomechoed from the pulpit;to the streets of America,the jails of Birmingham,and circled the world.Earmarked as an extremist by some,You continued on the right pathwith an army of committedlieutenants and foot soldiersthrough the roadblocks of assaultsand detours of blood.You took us to the mountaintopmandating non-violence andimpregnated our souls with hope.We must continue this journeyuntil justice cascades downto the depths of the oceanand joins the endless cosmosemblazoned with faith and love.A shared sky of diversity:all races, faiths and cultures;spiritual beings in human form unitedto push back the clouds,scatter the darkness andilluminate the power of peace.Gradualism is not an option,Now is the time!

​In September 2014, I was fortunate to attend the Oprah's The Life You Want Weekend in Newark, NJ. Somehow I knew this experience would be helpful in my journey to reduce the pain of fibromyalgia. This disorder was something I knew I had almost from the beginning in 2009, even though it took many tests and months for the specialists to make the diagnosis in 2010. I read as much as I could about fibromyalgia and bought DVD's from John Hopkins and began using them as well as pain tapes from practitioners of natural medicine. With my daily prayers, yoga and meditation I added Qigong and Pilates. With the help of two Qigong masters I received external treatments from them and attended several of their group workshops. I began to learn what worked for me and decreased my pain through these many modalities. But it was my recent eye surgery that put me on an unexpected path. Going into my eye surgery in July 2014, I had the utmost respect for my specialist, but within a few months my confidence in him plunged. Somehow an ordinary cataract surgery was marred by my Doctor's unintentional mistake. I completed eye surgery in July 2014 and the healing process was slow and it was getting me down. When my doctor questioned me about taking anti-depressants, I said "I don't think so this would be my last resort. I had to admit I was still grieving about the death of my sister in January 2013 and another sister as well as my niece and nephew who passed on later that year. All of them had faced debilitating illnesses over several months, and I accepted their deaths as part of my journey. All of them had lived full lives and were in better spaces. I knew that my depression was primarily related to the outcome of my surgery and the realization that I could no longer continue under the care of my eye specialist. I made my way to this huge facility surrounded by large screens. I took my seat, and although I was not physically near the stage, I felt Oprah's presence as did the women sitting around me. I am not a huge television fan but I knew this gathering was something I was destined to do. Throughout the sessions with Oprah and the other presenters I found it comforting to share tears, hugs, sweat and new visions with the people sitting around me. I looked at some of my fears and knew I had to make peace with some of my broken pieces and focus on my inner light. I had to reclaim the pieces I had allowed to stray so that I could become whole again and claim the life that I deserved and wanted. I left the conference feeling blessed that I could make choices that would enrich my path. I had the inner strength within to heal. I just had to open my mind and heart to new experiences. I left the stadium with Oprah's important message. "... With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas -thought by thought, choice by choice.'' Each day I began to journal about being grateful. One of the things I needed to get back to was my daily exercise regimen, even though my energy level was not where I wanted it to be. I knew that by going to the gym I would practice Pilates and decrease some of the pain I had. I was grateful that I could manage my pain with natural remedies and as my energy increased I began doing more of my household chores. I continue to look for new directions and paths to follow and am grateful that I can put on my smiley face each morning. After listening to Oprah's last tape, I am grateful for so many ordinary things that we take for granted - the sun after the rain, the sunset and even the full moon. One of my favorite places to visit is near the ocean and to hear the waves rushing to the shore. It is where I can listen more to the whispers. The whispers began to take me on a journey to New Mexico to learn more about natural healing for the eyes and in November 2015 I made my solo journey. There I met a group of people with an array of eye problems. Within the first day we bonded and became partners in learning together in the sacred waters at Ojos Caliente, New Mexico. We were all about claiming expanded visions to take on new paths. I am grateful to have met such amazing people including Dr. Berne and Liz Koch who were our teachers. We are painting our own canvas choice by choice.

Patience will allow you to make progress on your path of self-discovery. It is easy to be pulled in by the tides of discontent. When you affirm your positive thoughts you lay the groundwork for new horizons. Positive affirmations committed to the printed page raise your consciousness to a higher level. Yes, know your weaknesses, but show others your strengths. Sometimes we adopt a persona that we want others to see, crippling our landscape. As we peer out our windows it is difficult to distinguish between the "real me" and the "imagined me." Our distorted visions keep us on a treadmill that is exhausting with no room for growth. A person who is out of touch with the inner self needs constant approval from others. There may be an uneasiness resulting sometimes in self-abuse or neglect. This crippled landscape may blame others for our negative behaviors. Ultimately we are responsible for what happens to us. One of the benefits of committing your voice to a journal is reinforcing and expanding your vision. You are stretching your mind to new horizons and the rainbow of regeneration. You won't need the approval of others to make a statement. Patience is steady as time, staying on course through life's hills and valleys. Patience is fortitude, courage and untiring. Yes, it is difficult but over a period of time it will bring mental calmness that will help you master negative feelings such as fears and indecisiveness. With patience "I can't" becomes "I can." This does not mean that you become egotistical, instead you develop a wholesome self-respect; feelings of inferiority make you feel weak and ineffective. They may begin in childhood, but these feelings are something you can overcome. We begin to heighten our awareness and explore our higher consciousness. As we listen to our higher selves we begin to develop the healthy side of our minds. But how do we overlook people who are critical no matter how much we try to circumvent their insinuations and make peace? Sometimes we have to retreat from the company of that person or persons and avoid the temptation to attack them and maintain an attitude of grace. Know that you can be at peace even when there are cross questions and crooked answers. When we are vigilant and patient there will be "angels" or a guiding light to assist us in beating back the demons and remove the thorns placed in our path. Keep journaling and living in the present. To live in the present is crucial because the joy of life is looking for the blessings to come.

PATIENCE

is steady as time, staying on coursethrough life's hills and valleys.

It is investing time and energyconcentrating on your faith;silently structuring goals-allowing the plant to grow at its own pace.

Success comes to those who believewait and work as they wait.

Every seed is a miracle.Plant the seed of patience,nourish it with faith and loveand the tree will become strong and steadfast

​I have been on my journey into meditation and yoga for over forty years but I still consider myself a student. Why? Because life does not accommodate us. There will always be roadblocks and detours to throw us off balance. When I was in the quicksand of a depression I found yoga or it found me. Within a few weeks the muse sitting on my shoulder led me to a sign in the window which read "Transcendental Meditation" and within a few days of my practice I began to ascend from the darkness of sleepless nights and the denial of my pain with the multiple masks I wore. Once we become anchored in the center of our divine soul, no longer can we be pulled along by the debilitating tides of anger and despair. Sometimes the darkness of pain is necessary before we can transform the light within us, renewing and giving unconditional love to ourselves. There are many forms of meditation and I have experienced several methods, but the one common thread and the most important thing we can learn from any form of meditation is self study. We begin this journey in our solitude. It is a temporary exclusion that can last for 10 minutes to 30 minutes or more. Once you begin this retreat over a sustained period you are on a path of light that empowers you. In the silence of your mind you can observe your demons and we all have them, but you can learn to move away from them. We can return to this power source of love, faith and hope on a daily basis to realize the changes we need to make. For this moment in time, tune out to the distractions of TV and the ever present cell phone. Self love enables us to move forward by taking responsibility for making positive changes in our lifestyles. It sounds easy, but the four-letter word WORK is the biggest challenge. Think Big, but start small. The rewards of staying balanced in a world driven by social media and materialism will try one's strength and endurance. One of the things to be mindful of is each person is different, do not compare yourself with other people. When you stumble, know that you can return to your healing path any time. It is your choice...

It was twenty years ago that I sat looking anxiously at my television as the men assembled and boarded buses to attend the Million Man March. My son-in-law with some of his friends headed from Philadelphia. Like many watching, I prayed that they would be safe. There were vocal and publicized fears of violence but it never happened. Instead there was order, discipline and spiritual goodwill. One of the major highlights was Maya Angelou's speech: "Clap hands, we can make ourselves whole; Clap hands and invite joy..." It was an impressive time, and this event found its way into my first book: Lifting Voices, Voices of the Collective Struggle. A call was heard in the States and around the world for a million Black men to converge on the National Mall. Some said it could not be done, but a million Black men marched from all points to one point in Unity-fixing the foundation. Shining hours of renewal and bonding lighted the way back home. Some of the men were active before the Million Man March and so their convictions were reaffirmed. Others became energized transforming words into deeds, infusing our communities as activists. Each day then and now we are reminded that more are needed to climb the uphill journey. The only passport required is the four letter word WORK. Persistence, patience and perseverance are the key words. On a personal level, I was moved to join the Million Women March on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia one year later. The theme was Celebrating Sisterhood, in the spirit of peace, freedom and justice. These events mobilized my support for some of the organizations that I saw as active participants facing many of the problems in our communities. This new gathering of thousands, on the twenty year anniversary of the Million Man March, was more diverse with women and children, symbolizing the need for a sustained collective struggle on all fronts joining hands, walking side by side, shoulder to shoulder en masse, sharing, renewing and transforming. The theme was "Open Mind." I was unable to watch this on CSPAN, because I was attending a yoga conference. I have been looking at some of the comments made in the media and listening to some of the comments on WURD, the only Black owned and operated radio station in Pennsylvania. One thing that many people agree on is the logistics involved in moving thousands of people in and out of the National Mall is an awesome feat. Within hours after each event, the Mall looked as if no one had been there. But I am sure that energy and peace filled the empty spaces. Sometimes we don't agree with the messenger or the message, and some of the rhetoric may have sounded harsh, but for many people this gathering was special. Keeping an "open mind" I am energized and hope that the positive energy released is filled with self determination and purpose raising images that reflect the great survival skills of our people. Remember we had a remarkable history before slavery. It is my hope that this message of unity and strength can be explored in our homes and communities with a sense of purpose. We can plant the seeds in our younger generation to embrace each other and work towards solutions for the magnitude of problems facing us in education, jobs and the criminal justice system. Each of us has been endowed with a gift or reason for being here. Let the momentum of this gathering be shared, not only in our homes but in our places of worship as we move forward. I continue to support the organizations that deal with hunger and services to our youth, but have had some roadblocks and detours this past year which have prevented me from attending many of their conferences and workshops. I look forward in the near future to working more directly with our youth, especially those who have been involved with the justice system. This is a part of my purpose and my humble dream.

Committing myself to the stillness within me each day is difficult, but it is necessary to ease my health challenges. Today my thoughts are pulled away from the stillness to Sandra Bland. We may never know what happened even with the ongoing investigations, but one thing I do believe is that someone else other than Sandy should be held accountable. My take on Sandy is that she lives in many of us. I see a young lady who seemed to be going in a positive direction with self determination and purpose. A road that many of her age could model. She was about change in her life as well as others. As a young woman many years ago, I traveled to Texas for the first time and I saw the signs" For Colored Only." We had friends who sheltered us from this blatant segregation. What I didn't know was that we had been to a drive Inn theater that had this sign at the entrance, but I didn't notice it until that night! I said to my friend, "We are not going in there, turn the car around." I was annoyed, Why didn't I see that sign before? These ugly signs have gone, but unfortunately the embedded roots are sometimes invisible in our minds as well as others. I had been accustomed to discrimination all my life in New Jersey: segregated schools, sitting upstairs in the theaters stretched along Broadway and more. We lived in a mixed neighborhood, but when we ventured into some white sections "Go home nigger" was hurled at us and we moved swiftly through these paths before dark. Sandy's brief life struck a chord within me. What if many of our young people were as mindful as Sandy. Listen to her voice, follow her tracks. A path for many that is filled with noise and roadblocks facilitated and manipulated by the media. It is difficult to know what our ancestors are telling us through Sandy. For me, it is the need to focus on her positive attributes so that we can fight the violence by law enforcement in the halls of justice. Also, much can be done to elevate our young people from the confusing paths of self deception that lead them down paths of self hatred and no return. There are organizations out there to join and push the movement through the halls of justice to the streets lined with takers who have sucked the blood of our children. Exploitation of our people by any color should be condemned. Sandy wasn't perfect, because there are no perfect lives, but her videos speak messages that can benefit all of us. She was not grooving to "nigga this" and "nigga that." Sandy was grooving to "Say it loud I'm black and proud." She was a millennial who Lorraine Hansberry, our talented play writer would call "young, gifted and black." Ms. Hansberry's voice is timeless: "I speak to you because I can think of no more dynamic combination than to be young, gifted and black. ..Look at the work that awaits you!... write about the world as it is, and what you think it ought to be and must be -if there is to be a world … Write about our people - tell their story. You have something glorious to draw on begging for your attention. Don't pass it up. Use it… This Nation needs your gifts. Perfect them!" I remind myself as well as others that healing is a process not a prescription, each person's experiences in the journey will differ, but the commonalities will be the same; new horizons to empower ourselves as well as the next generation. Be blessed with the drumbeats of our ancestors as we hasten and strengthen our footsteps.

One day my uncle said,"Peggy one day you will write a book."I smiled and shook my head.Me? "Uncle that's pretty farfetched. When would I find the time?" I was 26 years and deeply engrossed in my psychiatric studies at Teacher's College. I questioned, why would a people watcher and avid analyzer of behavior find the time or even care?Writing words are for people who want to find timein the corners of their minds: To dream in front of a bookstoreswith their book on window display and a six figure book deal churning aroundtheir brain.Fast forward a few decades later after many conferences and twists and turns I discovered my path...For me writing has been about changing myself as well as others by uplifting ancestral voices lost along the way, voices that need to be heard.Writing is caring enough to Think BIG; to link another's mind to yours, to take risks, explore dreams, turn over memories . Writing is about healing myself as well as others.Would I like to make money? To say that money doesn't enter into my mindwould be a lie and aren't writers supposed to tell the truth? : -)

I had several careers: beginning as a kitchen worker at the age of 15 years in the local hospitals. I left Camden for New York and spread my wings as a sales girl at Macy’s in New York before heading to the Lincoln School for Nurses in the Bronx. I left there to pursue a short career in the Army Nurse Corps at West Point and later in Bussac. France. Leaving there I came back to complete my Bachelor’s and Master Degrees at Teachers College, Columbia University. After completing my studies I began teaching Psychology and Sociology to nursing students. My last professional career was spent working with young people in the Philadelphia public school system. When I retired my immediate plans included traveling to other countries and designing beaded jewelry from the stones I collected in my world travels. I have always been an avid reader, a people watcher problem solver for myself as well as many of the students I served during my three decades of counseling them.. I was content to get inside of other people’s heads. Exposing my thoughts in writing was something I hadn’t pondered. but then I decided I had to write some positive poems and themes in 1993 to down play some of the negative words and music which seemed to be everywhere. Yes, I had written in my creative writing courses, but it was always the critiquing of another person’s writing, that I enjoyed, And so putting together my opinionated creative writings and try to make them “hang for others” was a task. Only after I did several revisions was I able to allow anyone to see or hear what I had written. Forces moved me to complete and publish a book combining the survival skills of faith, love and hope. My inspirational poems, 8x12 framed and unframed, became very popular before and after the book Lifting Voices was published. I decided to self publish my first book in 1999 after a traditional publisher said, "It will take another year." I had no intention of writing another book. It was too much work and I was “too old.” I left the conference with the voice of my instructor ringing in my ear. She praised my writing and said, “Peggy,what’s age got to do with it? " Slowly the muse sitting on my shoulder made me realize that I needed to start paying attention to some of the beginning “stories” revolving in my grey matter. It was then I realized that it was my time to write!

I am My Piggy, Peg, Auntie and most of all Grandmom, Mom, Mommy and Mama.I am the color Evergreen learning new things all the time.Musically speaking I am a fusion of Opera, Classical, Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. All of these have been my saving grace.I am a chocoholic who has learned to curb my addiction.I am at home in the bustling crowds of New York City where nobody knows my name and I don’t care.I am a keeper of my culture who was a reluctant writer until I realized it was my time.I am a determined, sometimes frustrated, caregiver who leans on my faith to explore when to “hold on” and when to “let go.” I am a world traveler who knows the best journey I have made is within my soul.

Let every voice be heard with respect and understanding loving, listening and lifting- reaching for the sun beyond the clouds, gathering strength-uniting all within keeping us centered for all our tomorrows.